Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-09-16
81 have lived a long time, and the

81 have lived long time, and tn
longer / live the more certain | an
that God rules the affairs of men,"
But the Convention would no
agree to have prayers, although tc
this day no reason is known fol
their objection. In his next motor
few days later, Dr. Franklin wa
fortunate. He moved that in tn.
Senate every State should have al
equal representation, but in tht
House representation should be &C
cording to population. 1t is reported
that Washington said this plan saved
the Constitution.
We cannot follow the convention
through its arduous labors, which ex
tended into September; but when We
remember that the great civil change
which transformed the Union, anG
established for it q national existence
took place in single summer, in O
convention of 6fty-fve delegates, re-
presenting but twelve States, fol-
! Rhode Island would not send a dele
gate, We are filed with amazement.
When the draft was submitted to
| the Convention, it was not satisfac-
tory, was not even in accordance
with the hopes Of its most strenuous
advocates; was, indeed, as it is often
called" "a system of compromises.
But without doubt it was the best
that could be effected. Its funda-
mental idea, that it was not merely
q nnion of States, but of indiv iduals
composing the States, that directly
from the people did it obtain
the power necessary 10 the highest
development Of tie peopie-this idea
has never been question and only
its accidentalS, capable Of change al
any time. have seemed to some in ey-
cry succeeding generation, as to
in that which formulated it, of doubt
! ful wisdom.
1t was at last accepted by the Con.
vention (September 18th, 1871, on
ly because the crisis was imperative,
and all felt the importance Of unan-
nifty, as Washington. rising from his
massive chair behind the table, said .
"Should the States reject this ex-
cellent Constitution after it has receiv-
cd the sanction of their delegates, the
probability is that an opportunity will
uezer oce4r to cancel another in
naecp; the next will be drawn il
blood"
The order signing was according
to the geographical position of States.
Mr.. Madison records that while the
last members were signing, DR..
Franklin, looking toward the Presi-
DENTS chair, at the back Of whieh Q
rising sun was painted, observed that
painters found it difficult to make q
distinction between rising and a
setting sun II have" said he, often
and often in the course of the session,
and in the vicissitudes of my hopes
and iaags as to it'd issue, looked ct
that picture behind the Presidents
chair without being able to tell if it
was rising or setting sun. but
now at last, l have the happiness to
know that it is rising SUM-"
Only thirty nine delegates signed
the Constitution, of whom five, Ben
jamin Franklin, Roger Sherman,
Robert Morris, James Wilson, and
George Reed, had likewise signed
the Declaration of Independence.
Nine States having accepted the
Constitution, it become the law of
the land, and when the tenth ratified
it a great celebration was held at
Philadelphia. There was a grand
procession, banquet, an address in
the open air to twenty thousand poo.
pie, and the Liberty Bell, which rang
in the birth of the nation in 1776,
COW anpouaced its Freedom ear, while
10 proctotm Liberty throughout the
Land and to all the Inhabitants
Mereof," was repeated on silver ban
ners spanning the crowded streets,
and upon snow-white flags which
hoated from the mast-heads of the
stately vessels which paraded the
Delaware.
The one hundredth anniversary of
the adoption of the Constitution will
be appropriately observed in Phila-
delphia this year.
The full text Of the Constitution is
given in most histories of the United
States, and no doubt is familiar to all
American young people.
The original draft Of the Constitu-
ton was engrossed upon four sheets
of parchment (the resolutions adopt
Jog it upon fiftb); it is now care
fully preserved in the State Depart
p.ent ct Washington, end is as well
worthy the reverential examina-
tion of every lover Of human freedom
! as is the old parchment wtere is set
foIth the act of Habeas Corpus OF tho
still older roll of Magma Charta.